Help me out here -

Why would anyone give up the consumer protections plus the benefit of a deferred payment that a credit card provides for no additional value over a credit card?

Scenario 1: the hotel clerk accidentally puts through an $8,000 charge instead of an $800 charge. With a CC, if there are any problems, a call to your CC company clears it up. With a debit card, you have just depleted your bank account, and checks start bouncing all over the place. You get hit with bad check fees, overdue fees, and your credit report gets a black mark.

Scenario 2: you buy something online from flybynight.com and they do not deliver. A call to the CC company gets you a quick resolution, and you don't have to pay the charge. With a debit card, the dot-bomb already has your cash and you have to fight to get it back.

Why bother?